Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;focus&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Focus’, characterized by its button pompon-type inflorescences that are about 3.5 cm in diameter; attractive bright yellow-colored ray florets; early flowering, response time about 52 days; dark green foliage; strong stems; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for about three or four weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Focus’.

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars havinginflorescences with desirable colors and good form and substance.

[0003] The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross made by theInventor in October, 1994, in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietaryChrysanthemum seedling selection identified as B498, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum seedlingselection identified as 2642, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent.

[0004] The cultivar Focus was discovered and selected by the Inventor asa flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Salinas, Calif., in August, 1996. The selection of thisplant was based on its desirable inflorescence colors and good form andsubstance.

[0005] Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminalcuttings taken in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shownthat the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The cultivar Focus has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Focus’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Focus’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

[0008] 1. Button pompon-type inflorescences that are about 3.5 cm indiameter.

[0009] 2. Attractive bright yellow-colored ray florets.

[0010] 3. Early flowering, response time about 52 days.

[0011] 4. Dark green foliage.

[0012] 5. Thick and strong stems.

[0013] 6. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for about three or four weeks in an interiorenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0014] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Focus’grown as a spray-type cut Chrysanthemum. The photograph on the secondsheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Focus’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., underconditions which approximate commercial practice in a double-layerpolyethylene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rooted cuttings wereplanted on Feb. 10, 2000 and received 18 long day/short nights followedby short day/long nights until flowering. Plants were grown assingle-stem spray-type cut chrysanthemums. During the production time,the following environmental conditions were measured: day temperatures,18 to 27° C.; night temperatures, 16 to 18° C.; and light levels, 2,000to 4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for six to ten typical flowering stems and were taken duringthe week of Apr. 24, 2000.

[0016] Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivarFocus.

[0017] Commercial classification: Button pompon-type cut Chrysanthemum.

[0018] Parentage:

[0019]Female or seed parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number B498, not patented.

[0020]Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifoliumseedling selection identified as code number 2642, not patented.

[0021] Propagation:

[0022]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0023]Time to rooting.—Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21°C.

[0024]Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

[0025] Plant description:

[0026]Appearance.—Herbaceous button pompon-type cut flower.

[0027]Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 91.4 cm.Spray width: About 13.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm. Internode length:About 3.8 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.

[0028]Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 8.6 cm.Width: About 7.5 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base: Mostlytruncate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses divergent. Texture: Upper andlower surfaces pubescent; glossy; thick; veins prominent on lowersurface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: Darker than 147A. Youngfoliage lower surface: Darker than 147B. Mature foliage upper surface:Darker than 147A; venation, close to 147A to 147B. Mature foliage lowersurface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole: Length: About2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: Close to 147B.

[0029] Flowering description:

[0030]Appearance.—Button pompon-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

[0031]Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to about two to three weeks of long day/short night conditionsafter planting followed by photoinductive short day/long nightconditions flower about 52 days later.

[0032]Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, floweringstems will maintain good color and substance for about three or fourweeks in an interior environment after one week of cool storage.

[0033]Quantity of Inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 12inflorescences per flowering stem.

[0034]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.5 cm. Depth (height): About1.65 cm. Diameter of disc: Less than 3 mm, inconspicuous. Diameter ofreceptacle: About 9 mm.

[0035]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong, fused at base. Length: About1.3 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Corolla tube length: About 5 mm. Corolla tubewidth, at base: About 1.5 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Texture:Satiny, smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Initially upright; when mature, about90° from vertical. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 225arranged in numerous rows. Color: When opening, upper and lowersurfaces: Initially yellowish green, more yellow than 144A; becomingbright yellow, 9A. Mature, upper surface: Bright yellow, 9A to brighterthan 12A. Mature, lower surface: Bright yellow, 9A.

[0036]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; slightly flared at apex. Length:About 6 mm. Width: Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of discflorets per inflorescence: Massed at center of receptacle, less than 10.Color: Immature: 144A. Mature: Apex: 9A. Mid-section and base: 155D.

[0037]Peduncle.—Aspect: Strong, angled about 40° from vertical. Length:First peduncle: About 7.3 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 12.5 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 16.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm. Texture: Very finepubescence. Color: 146B.

[0038]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 9A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A.Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

[0039]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0040] Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toChrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under commercialconditions.

[0041] Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum havedemonstrated good tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. andday temperatures lower than 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Focus’, as illustrated and described.